The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-04-21
THE ARABS HORSE.
A YOUNG COLT TREATED AS A
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.

Great Determination.
The majority of Arab horse owners prefer
TO keep mares-in their opinion 81 mare
that Produces mare is fountain OF riches"
in times Of battle, mares can be easier kept
quiet than horses and that, to the dwellerS
in the desert, is another recommendation.
Stations indeed, are very rare; only the
mightier chiefs that can afford to keep one,
as the stallion must have many servants to
look after its welfare and see that it does
not wander and become lost. When an
Arab mare drops her foal mighty commo-
ton is made, in the belief that the animal
will never afterward be frightened at hear
Ing noise Of any kind. Then, after the din
has ceased, there falls to be enacted little
ceremony; the foal is transferred from the
arm of the Arab who carried it in his arms
during the disturbance, to the master OF the
tent, who placing the right dug on the mare
in the mouth of the infant one, exclaims in
loud voice: 'May Allah bless and preserve
it and send us good fortune in abundance,
with health to enjoy itr' All present join
in making a suitable response, usually ending
with: "Let us all bless Allah, who has sent
to the family another child"
Great attention continues to be bestowed
upon the foal during the first seven months
of its life 1t is not only taught to suck its
mother, but is also taught how 20 drink the
milk of the camel and the eve, so that it
may soon learn to do without its mother
which has to resume work as speedily as
may be. In the event of barley ever becom-
ing scarce or of the water supply running
short the horse is able-having been well
taught-to take "pot luck" When the foal
has attained the age Of about 225 days it is
finally weaned and severed from the COM
partnership of its mother, on which occasion
some other little ceremonial of simple kind
is INDUCED in--the women Of the tent as
semble and demand the animal. "Give it
unto us, they say, sit has now no other
mother; it has become an orphan which we
shall tend and feed and Allah will bless us"
The foal is then given up and the women are
as good as their word; they feed it with
milk and dates, giving it also pieces of their
bread. 1t is doubtless their tender treat
ment which renders the animal so docile-so
docile that it can be easily handled by the
merest child. Its education proceeds apace;
each foal is, so to say, married to child
who rides him in search Of grass or water
The child is fearless and the boy teaches the
horse to fear no evil the boy in time be-
comes q clever horseman, while the horse
grows all that can be wished. The colt is
left in charge of the child till it is Is or 20
months old, when its breaking inn is begun.
The training Of the colt is begun by his
being shackled with clogs; and persons who
have seen this mode of breaking think it is
really admirable system. The clog sprevent
the animal from entangling itself in the
halter, or from getting into the manager, or
from lying below it and from a multitude Of
bad habits which are incidental to other
modes of training. Not till it is over 2 years
old is the colt ever saddled or bridled, and
then the utmost care is taken not to fatigue
the animal; as a preliminary to the mount
ing of full grown rider they are frequently
led up and down with pack saddle on their
backs and bit In their mouths which is COW
cred with undressed wool. At length the
man mounts the colt in order to complete its
education. Before it has only been allowed
to carry a child on its back, now it is made
to feel the power of master hand-the
great object in view being to accustom the
animal to ungrudging obedience. At first
the colt gets only light work and is ridden
without spurs and but little force is used.
His owner canters him around among his
belongings, using las seldom as he possibly
cam light cane, just to remind his horse
that he has a master; immense pains are
taken not to tout or harass the animal, but
to train him in the way he will have to go;
he is always addressed In gentle voice and
no opposition is experienced.
One bit of business; it is deemed of the
utmost Importance he should be taught from
the beginning of his training, and that is to
stand stone still while his rider is dismount-
ing and not to stir after he has dismounted.
The value of such training was seen when an
Arab rider was shot and fell from his horse
it stood still till it was remounted. The
training of these animals is so complete that
any person might ride one of them to market
pass the bride over the horses neck, let it
fall to the ground, then placing brick or
stone upon it, go away on business, remain
absent for an hour or two and come back in
the certainty Of finding his colt where he
left it,
From their earliest years Arab horses are
fed with much care and discrimination,
their food being in accordance with their
age, temperament and work. AS has been
stated, the Arab horse is taught to drink the
milk of the camel and the eve. A milk diet
is greatly approved of, because owners of
horses think that it is good for the health of
the animal and strengthens without fatten-
ing it. Camels' milk is also said to be i'm
bued with the power of imparting speed Of
limb to those who drink it, whether man or
horse. Another point connected with thu
feed of horse in the desert ought to b.
studied by trainers at home, that is, that the
animal should be made to eat barley. Had
| not seen the mare produce the foal l
should have said it was the barley is an
Arab saying. Another saying is: "When
you purchase horse feed him with barley
till you know the measure of his stomach-a
good horseman ought to know the measure
of barley suited to his horse as exactly as the
measure of powder suited to his gun"
have now, perhaps, said enough to show
the love of the Arab for his steed and the
care that is taken to render the animal of
value, and his value being assured, care for
the horse is inculcated. "When you dis.
mount, think of your horse before you think
of yourself; it is he who has carried you and
is to carry you again'-a most excellent
sentiment which should be printed and pasted
upon the back of every stable door. Another
Arab saying about the horse which merits
attention is "Run not your steed in the
teeth of strong wind if you desire to keep
him In good health" One more sentiment
should be kept in mind: 1.-THE grave of q
horseman is always open; when, therefore,
a man mounts his steed he ought say, In the
name of !"-Bailey's Monthly.